جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

Vivian The shower was still running. I wasn’t under it. I was sitting on the cold bathroom floor with my back against the wall, knees to my chest, listening to it. The sound filled the whole room. It filled my head. If I kept the water on, maybe I wouldn’t have to think. Maybe I wouldn’t have to remember Alexander’s hands on my waist last night. Maybe I wouldn’t have to remember how he told me to leave at 5am like I was nothing.I jumped when I heard the knock. Soft, but it still cut through the water. “Vivi?” Auntie’s voice. “You okay in there? I heard the water for too long.”My heart shot up my throat. I scrambled up, turned the tap off with shaking hands, and wrapped the towel around me. My hair was already dry in some places. I looked a mess.“Just a bit!” I called out, making my voice as normal as I could. It came out too high. “I’m taking a bit. I’ll be right back!”“Okay, my dear.” Her footsteps paused. “Don’t stay too long o. Breakfast soon.”I heard her walk away. I cou

David's PovI lay on my back, chest heaving, staring at the ceiling fan spinning slowly above us. My body felt heavy and spent. Sweat cooled on my skin. Charlotte rested beside me, her breathing calm and steady like nothing much had happened. But two hours. We had been fucking for two full hours, and I was completely drained.The whole time, I was mourning. Not out loud. I didn’t cry or talk about it. But inside, deep down, the sadness sat there like a rock in my chest. Vivian kept flashing through my mind—her smile, the way she used to hold me after sex, how simple and warm everything felt with her. Yet here I was, moving inside Charlotte, trying to lose myself in her body, but the mourning wouldn’t leave. It rode along with every thrust.It started right after dinner. We’d had some wine, and Charlotte gave me that look. She wanted me. No games. She pulled me into the bedroom, her hands already under my shirt, kissing me hard. I kissed her back, desperate for the escape. Her lips tas

David's PovI stared at the ringing phone, my heart beating fast. Vivian. After everything, why now? I wiped my eyes quickly and answered before it stopped.“Hello?” I said, trying to sound normal.“David? Hi, it’s Vivian,” she replied. Her voice was clear and professional, just like always. “Sorry to call so late sir. I know it’s not office hours, but the deal with the new client in Chicago is moving fast. I needed to update you.”I sat back on the couch, still feeling the weight of everything. Emelia slept quietly nearby. “Yeah, that’s fine. What’s going on with the deal?”Vivian jumped right into business. “The contract needs a few changes on the delivery timeline. They want it shortened by two weeks. I reviewed the numbers, and we can make it work if we shift some resources from the other project. What do you think? Should I send you the updated draft tonight?”Her voice brought back so many memories, but I tried to focus. “That sounds good. Send it over. I’ll look at it first thi

I walked into the dark bar with my head spinning. The image of Charlotte naked in that hotel room would not leave me. Her legs open for another man. After everything we had been through with Emelia. I sat at the counter and ordered a whiskey. Then another. And another. The bartender looked at me but said nothing. I drank to forget. To drown the pain of my wife sleeping with someone else.“Another one,” I said, sliding the empty glass forward.The bartender poured it. “Rough night, sir?”“You have no idea,” I replied. “My wife… she was with another man. In a hotel. I saw it. Legs open, naked, right after giving birth to our daughter. How do you even deal with that?”He shook his head. “Sorry to hear that. Take it easy, okay?”But I didn’t take it easy. I kept drinking. The whiskey burned my throat and made my thoughts blurry. I thought about Charlotte’s words. How she called me weak. How she said I couldn’t satisfy her. I thought about Emelia sleeping at home. My poor baby girl with a

Charlotte stood in the doorway, her mouth open in shock. Her face quickly changed from surprise to pure anger. “You bastard!” she shouted. “Fucking our staff in our own house? After everything? I’m going to kill this bitch!”She started moving toward the bed, eyes locked on Elle. “Get out of my bed, you homewrecker! How dare you touch my husband!”Elle pulled the sheet higher, looking scared. “Mrs. Charlotte, please. I’m sorry. It just happened. I didn’t mean to—”“Shut up!” Charlotte screamed. “I’m going to drag you out of here myself!”I was still drunk, but I quickly sat up. My mind was spinning. This could get ugly fast. I grabbed Charlotte’s arm before she could reach Elle. “Stop! Just stop for a second.”Charlotte turned to me, tears of anger in her eyes. “Why should I stop? You cheated on me! With her!”I pulled her closer instead of pushing her away. I kissed her hard on the lips. She was surprised but kissed me back for a moment. Then I reached out and held Elle’s hand too.“